Hanley Ramirez headlines list of Dodgers’ free agents.

Pablo Sandoval

San Francisco Giants third baseman holds up three fingers: World Series rings, or contract years he’ll seek in free agency? (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)


The World Series is over, meaning a total of 121 players became major-league free agents today.

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who seemed destined for a contract extension a year ago, now seems destined to receive a $15.3 million qualifying offer. He headlines the Dodgers’ group of seven free agents, and is the only one with a chance of receiving a qualifying offer. Josh Beckett, Kevin Correia, Roberto Hernandez, Paul Maholm, Chris Perez and Jamey Wright are the others.

Some of the bigger free-agent names you’ll hear discussed this winter: Starting pitchers Max Scherzer, Ervin Santana, James Shields, Jake Peavy, Justin Masterson and Jon Lester, relievers Sergio Romo, Andrew Miller and Jason Grilli, catcher Russell Martin, first baseman Kendrys Morales, third basemen Pablo Sandoval and Chase Headley, outfielders Ichiro Suzuki, Norichika Aoki and Michael Morse.
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The Dodgers haven’t finalized their 25-man NLDS roster. Who’s still on the bubble?

Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias could be on the bubble for one of the Dodgers’ final NLDS roster spots. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Dodgers are “probably 99, 98 percent where we want to be” in deciding their roster for the National League Division Series, manager Don Mattingly said Thursday afternoon. The St. Louis Cardinals announced their roster earlier Thursday. Rosters are due to MLB tomorrow morning, and the Dodgers must winnow their manpower from 37 to 25.

Some decisions were made Tuesday, when five players were given permission to return either to their off-season home or the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona.

A few more decisions have been made in the last 48 hours:
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Dodgers set to activate Hyun-Jin Ryu from DL for Sunday start in San Diego.

Hyun-Jin Ryu

Hyun-Jin Ryu is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in two starts against the Padres this season. (Associated Press photo)

SAN DIEGO >> Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will return from the disabled list Sunday to start against the San Diego Padres, and right-hander Roberto Hernandez will start Monday at Dodger Stadium against the Washington Nationals.

“The only that’s going to change that — (Ryu) is going to do more stuff today running-wise — is if for some reason he would go backwards and they felt that another day would be needed, then we would do that,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

Ryu was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining the gluteus medius and piriformis muscles in his right buttock August 13. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Arizona and reported no ill effects afterwards.

The left-hander is 13-6 with a 3.28 earned-run average this season.

Ryu’s return would displace Kevin Correia to the bullpen. The right-hander went 2-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts after he was acquired from the Minnesota Twins. That’s likely to be the only major impact on the Dodgers’ pitching staff, since rosters can expand past the current 25-man limit on Monday.

Mattingly had a simple reason for lining up Ryu to face the Padres and Hernandez to face the Nationals.

“Ryu’s been really good against San Diego, and Roberto’s been really good against the Nationals,” he said.

In two starts against the Nationals this season, both wins, Hernandez hasn’t allowed a run in 15 ⅓ innings.

In three starts against the Padres this season, Ryu is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA (19 IP, 1 ER).

Hyun-Jin Ryu on DL; Pedro Baez is up again and Kevin Correia starts Tuesday.

Hyun-Jin Ryu injury

Dodgers head athletic trainer Stan Conte talks to injured starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) as catcher A.J. Ellis looks on at left, in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Ryu was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. (Associated Press photo)

The Dodgers placed Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list Friday (retroactive to Thursday) after an MRI revealed a Grade 1-2 strain of the gluteus medius and piriformis muscles of his right posterior hip area. These are muscles that help stabilize the hip and leg during the throwing motion.

Ryu, who was walking with a noticeable limp Friday, will be re-evaluated in a few days to determine his progress.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “You feel regret that you didn’t take care of yourself better. You wonder what you could have done.”

There is no official timetable for Ryu’s recovery, but the pitcher said he expects to return before the end of the regular season.

“No doubt about it,” he said.

Kevin Correia will take Ryu’s start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres, and presumably five days later on August 23 against the New York Mets. Correia scattered four hits and one run over six innings in his Dodgers debut Monday in Atlanta. He was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later or cash on August 9.

Ryu is 13-6 with a 3.28 earned-run average in 23 starts for the Dodgers this season.

Pedro Baez will take Correia’s spot in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday to take Ryu’s spot on the active roster.

Hyun-Jin Ryu’s injury could alter Dodgers’ rotation for upcoming homestand.

Hyun-Jin Ryu injury

Dodgers head athletic trainer Stan Conte talks to injured starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) as catcher A.J. Ellis looks on at left, in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Ryu left the game under his own power. (Associated Press photo)

ATLANTA >> Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was hoping to use an off-day in the schedule on Monday to give his starters an extra day of rest.

Now, the possibility exists that Roberto Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw will all pitch on regular rest in the three-game series against the San Diego Padres beginning Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

That’s because Hyun-Jin Ryu left last night’s game with a strained right gluteal muscle, putting his next start in jeopardy.

“I don’t feel like his chances are very good of pitching on his turn,” Mattingly said of Ryu. “Let’s say he can’t pitch on his turn, if we’re going to go hypothetically. He may be ready to go next time.”

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